How to Prepare for a Multiple Birth

Explore this Article

methods

1Getting Prenatal Care for a Multiple Pregnancy

2Seeking Prenatal Instruction and Support

3Preparing Your Home for Multiples

Other Sections

Tips and Warnings

Related Articles

References

Preparing for a multiple birth can be intimidating, particularly if you have never given birth before. However, if you are expecting twins or more, remember that you are not alone, and there are resources available to expectant parents in your situation. Prepare as well as you can by getting the prenatal health care you need, getting support and advice from birthing classes and fellow parents, and preparing your home for multiple babies.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting Prenatal Care for a Multiple Pregnancy

1. 
   1
   Attend all scheduled prenatal care visits. There is a higher risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery when you are carrying multiples. Seeing your prenatal care provider regularly can help put your mind at ease and catch any potential complications early.

   • Ask your primary care doctor or OB-GYN to refer you to a doctor who has experience dealing with multiple pregnancies and multiple births.
   • You may need to have more frequent prenatal visits for a multiple pregnancy than you would during a pregnancy with a single fetus.
   • Talk to your health insurance company about how your visits are covered under your plan. You can also enroll in a new plan during a special enrollment period when you're pregnant.
2. 
   2
   Ask about delivery options. Birthing multiples requires additional monitoring equipment, a potentially longer labor, and extra precautions for your safety and that of the babies. Ask your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of a surgical delivery (cesarean section) vs. a vaginal birth in the case of a multiple pregnancy.

   • The fact that you are carrying multiples does not necessarily mean that you will need a cesarean section. The decision to have a cesarean section vs. natural birth will be based in part on your past birthing history, the positions of the fetuses inside your womb, and whether there are any complications with the pregnancy (such as a low-lying placenta).
3. 
   3
   Prepare for the possibility of a preterm birth. This is the most common complication with multiple births. If you are carrying twins, there is a greater than 50% chance that they will be born preterm, and higher numbers of multiples are almost always born preterm. Ask your doctor about what sorts of special care your babies will need if they are born preterm.
4. 
   4
   Ask your doctor how to take care of your own health during your pregnancy. In addition to potential complications for your babies, carrying multiples can place additional stress on the pregnant mother. Talk to your doctor if you have any specific concerns about your own health. You may wish to discuss some of the following issues:

   • Proper nutrition. Women carrying multiples are advised to gain more weight than women carrying a single baby. As a general rule of thumb, you should eat an extra 300 calories for each fetus on top of what you would normally consume.
   • Exercise. Staying active is important during any pregnancy, but you may need to avoid anything too strenuous. Ask your doctor about an appropriate level of exercise for your pregnancy.
   • Folic acid. It's important that you're getting your daily dose of folic acid during your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about how much folic acid you should be taking.
   • Risk of pre-eclampsia and other health complications. Talk to your doctor about the possible health risks to you. Multiple pregnancies come with an increased risk of developing problems like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
5. 
   5
   Get help finding a good pediatrician. Your prenatal health specialist may be able to connect you with a pediatrician who is able to see multiple new patients and who has experience with the health issues young multiples may experience.
   Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Seeking Prenatal Instruction and Support

1. 
   1
   Take a multiple birth class. Many hospitals and birth centers offer classes specifically for parents expecting multiples. These classes may offer information about what to expect during a multiple pregnancy and birth, advice on maintaining good maternal health during the pregnancy and after delivery, and practical information about preparing for life at home with multiple babies. They can also help you build your support network by introducing you to other parents who are also expecting multiples.
2. 
   2
   Consider hiring a doula or birth attendant. A multiple birth can be mentally and physically exhausting. Doulas can help provide advice or instructions to ease anxiety and discomfort during a multiples pregnancy and birth.

   • Doulas and birth attendants work hard to guide you through the pregnancy and help you understand what to expect. Doulas can offer excellent support and encouragement during delivery, and can help advocate for you while also providing comfort and advice during labor.
   • Some doulas also offer assistance with light housekeeping and early childcare so you can rest or get other things accomplished.
3. 
   3
   Join a support group for parents of multiple births. Many regions have local activity clubs and support groups for families with multiples. These groups can give excellent advice on local childcare and deals on items for multiples, and may even provide clothing exchanges, furniture or car seat hand-me-downs, and suggestions for parenting multiples.
4. 
   4
   Talk to a lactation specialist about breastfeeding multiples. If you’re interested in breastfeeding your babies, you may wish to seek out support and advice before they are born. Breastfeeding multiples is possible, but it presents challenges beyond those involved in breastfeeding a single baby. Many hospitals and birth centers have lactation specialists on staff who can help you deal with these unique challenges.
   Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preparing Your Home for Multiples

1. 
   1
   Babyproof the house ahead of time. Once your multiples are born, you will probably be too busy caring for them to spend time baby-proofing your home. Try to get at least the basics done ahead of time:

   • Cover electrical outlets
   • Install baby-proof cabinet locks
   • Pad hard corners or edges of furniture
   • Install baby gates at the bottoms and tops of staircases
   • Strap down heavy furniture, like TVs, bookcases, and dressers
2. 
   2
   Buy and assemble the supplies you will need. Buying and assembling the necessary products in advance will save you the stress and time of preparing the nursery once the babies arrive. Keep in mind that you need to purchase supplies and furniture that can accommodate multiple babies.

   • Multiple babies should never sleep in the same crib or there could be a risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
   • Keep in mind that your multiples will likely be born preterm, and therefore smaller than your average singleton newborn. Consider buying clothes, diapers, and swaddling cloths designed for preterm babies.
3. 
   3
   Line up infant childcare assistance. Many new mothers of multiples need help caring for the babies during the first few months. If you are able, start interviewing nannies, babysitters, family members, or neighbors before the babies are born so that you have a go-to helper when the time comes.

   • Consider hiring assistance even for just a few hours each day in the first several weeks after delivery. This will give you time to rest and recover or get things done around the house.
   Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

• Raising multiples can be a challenging process. Consider purchasing a few books on strategies for raising multiples and for recognizing multiples as individuals and learning how to give each baby appropriate attention.
  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0
• If you are unable to bear the expense of multiples, consider applying for government assistance. Most localities or federal governments offer financial aid to families who are struggling to pay for necessities such as clothing, infant food, diapers, health care, and housing.
  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0
• If you have family or friends with babies or small children, don’t hesitate to ask them for hand-me-down baby clothes, toys, or furniture. If you don’t know anyone who can pass on their lightly-used baby supplies, consider purchasing items second-hand online or from a thrift store in your area.
  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0

Advertisement

Warnings

• Carrying multiples puts you at a greater risk of premature labor and other complications. If you believe you may be experiencing problems, call a health professional or emergency services immediately to discuss your symptoms.
  Thanks

  Helpful5Not Helpful0
• If you have other children, giving birth to multiples may cause significant sibling rivalry due to the amount of time and attention the new babies will require. Be sure to take time – even if it requires paying for a babysitter for the new babies – to spend quality time with any older siblings.
  Thanks

  Helpful5Not Helpful2

Advertisement